Committee sends $25,000 award for Spanish American Committee child center to full council

The Education Environment Sustainability Committee voted to refer Resolution 20250288 to the full county council for second reading on Oct. 22, 2024. The resolution would award up to $25,000 from the District 3 ARPA Community Grant Fund to the Spanish American Committee for its Little Footsteps bilingual child enrichment center.

Romanita Vargas, CEO of the Spanish American Committee, described the center’s recent move into a new space at 3466 Saint Rocco’s Court in the Blanket Mills building, adjacent to St. Rocco’s Church. Vargas said the organization, founded in 1964, operates multiple programs and serves about 3,500 people annually. She said the new facility increases child-care capacity from about 48 children at the prior site to a capacity of 90 children.

Vargas said Little Footsteps serves children from 6 weeks to 8 years old and is a five-star program (she referred to it as a gold-star or UPK-level program for preschool). The center provides meals, a sensory room, indoor play space and plans for an outdoor playground pending fundraising. Vargas said the center works closely with Cleveland Public Schools on services for children with speech and developmental needs.

Committee members who spoke praised the center’s early-childhood work and its impact on families in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. A committee member recommended referring the resolution to the full council for second reading; members voted in favor without recorded opposition.

The referral puts the award on the full council’s calendar for consideration. Vargas told the committee the organization is continuing local fundraising to complete outdoor play space and other site improvements. The committee record indicates the motion to move the resolution to second reading was approved by voice vote.